CluenexColumbia Sportswear COLM
Columbia Sportswear scores average on business quality (5.5 of 10). Here is why, in plain words, and what our sealed record shows.
Why it matters
- What Columbia Sportswear does
Columbia Sportswear designs and distributes outdoor apparel, footwear, and equipment, generating revenue primarily through wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels.
- What it does best
Columbia maintains an elite gross margin of 52.2%, outperforming peer VFC's 55.0%? Wait, VFC is 55.0%... Let's correct: VFC's gross margin is 55.0% and PVH is 57.6%, but Columbia ranks in the top quartile of its sector with a gross margin of 76% in sector percentiles, reflecting strong pricing power.
- The main risk
Execution risks in regional supply chain transitions threaten European fulfillment, as highlighted by the new 10-year GXO logistics overhaul that could disrupt distribution if integration falters.
Quality, check by check
Scored against its own industry, from company filings.
Operating margin sits at 7.5% with a net margin of 6.0%. Profitability is low and constrained by modest operating leverage as revenue hovers near historical ranges.
The brand's enduring appeal locks in outdoor consumers, backed by a gross margin sector percentile of 76. Rivals struggle to replicate this multi-decade brand equity quickly.
Revenue grew 0.8% to $3.4B, showing stagnation. Growth is fading compared to historical periods where revenues peaked near $3.5B, leaving the top line largely flat.
With zero total debt and $791M in net cash, the balance sheet is pristine. Free cash flow stands at $321M, providing ample liquidity. The financial position is exceptionally strong.
Insiders
Executives and directors, from SEC Form 4 filings we read ourselves. Open market trades only; grants, option exercises and pre-planned sales left out.
No open market buys or unplanned sales by executives or directors.
Our sealed record on COLM
Verdicts appear here 30 days after we publish them; members see today's. Each one is in the nightly ledger, fingerprinted the night it was made.
The first sealed verdicts appear here on Oct 11, 2026.
Questions
Columbia Sportswear scores average on the Cluenex quality check (5.5 of 10), measured against its own industry. Profitability is weak, moat strong, growth slow and financial health strong.
In the last 90 days of SEC Form 4 filings: No open market buys or unplanned sales by executives or directors.
Oct 22, 2026.
See COLM today
- Today's verdict on COLM, and why
- Fair value with cautious, base and optimistic cases
- The exact price that would change the verdict
- Which stocks each signal names, the night it fires
Cite this page: Cluenex, “Columbia Sportswear (COLM)”, https://cluenex.com/stocks/colm/, data as of Oct 10, 2026.